Today's News

25 Years Ago
With no public notice of the meeting, several school board members met to discuss restructuring Rockwood’s school system. Without meaning to violate the Sunshine Law, board members considered having seventh- and eighth-graders remain at Rockwood Junior High and moving ninth-graders to the high school.

An array of breakfast-time fare, such as those dished up by Kingston Lions Club member Sally Stokes, will be offered during the club’s annual pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. March 31 in Kingston Baptist Church’s family life center.

By Ellen Probert Williamson
Spring officially began this year on March 20, and with it comes some warmer days. New leaves are beginning to appear on some of the trees, and little violets and forget-me-nots star the new grass among dandelions. So many springtime traditions come to mind.

Soon it will be April, a month of tremendous contrasts in history, legend and tradition.

Count many of Roane County’s doctors among those in the community concerned about the growing abuse of pain medication and physicians who prescribe it so readily.
Throw in a sheriff whose own son has battled addiction to pain pills.
What you end up with is a search for answers.
A roomful of local doctors, Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton and state Sen. Ken Yager met recently to discuss what they can do to alleviate the problem.
Stockton told of his own son’s issues with addiction and his recent treatment at a facility.

Things could be turning around for the once-beleagured Rarity Ridge subdivision.
The Oak Ridge development has a new name — The Preserve at Clinch River — and Roane County recently received payment for back taxes on the properties.
Developer Mike Ross, who went bankrupt and has been sued by investors in his handful of high-end Rarity developments, owed the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid property taxes.

A jury of seven women and five men was picked to hear the case of a Kingston man accused of a sex crime.
However, they never got to deliberate.
Assistant District Attorney General Bill Reedy said Criminal Court Judge Eugene Eblen granted a directed verdict of not guilty at the conclusion of the state’s proof on Tuesday.
Michael K. Torrans, 46, was charged with aggravated statutory rape. Reedy said the judge’s decision means he cannot be retried under double-jeopardy rules.
The alleged crime occurred on Memorial Day weekend in 2009.

Relay for Life of Roane County is holding a tribute for local survivors of cancer this month.
“We have a really exciting event,” said Relay chairwoman Fran Puckett.
Relay organizers are hosting a survivors afternoon of fun on Sunday, March 25.
“At lunch, we’re going to have finger foods for all survivors,” Puckett added.
The reception will be from 1 to 2 p.m. in room O-105 of the O’Brien Building at Roane State Community College.

STAFF REPORTS
Kingston police are investigating an aggravated robbery that occurred on March 11. According to the report, officers went to 1217 Blossom Lane for a possible burglary in progress.
David Gibson was found lying in the front yard when police arrived. He was in bad shape, according to the report, and was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by Lifestar.
“The only thing I can tell you now is it’s an ongoing investigation,” Assistant Police Chief Gary Nelson said Friday.

Rockwood Water, Sewer and Gas has nothing to do with a water-line insurance sales pitch that has been circulating in the Rockwood service area.
A customer recently shared a letter from a company called HomeServe USARepair Management Corp., providing insurance for the repair and service for the customer’s portion of water service line.
The company has been in trouble in other state, resulting in settlements with state officials.
“I would like our customers to know this is not through us or endorsed by us,” said manager Kim Ramsey.